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12. Celebrate serenity at the most striking fishing village in India – Muttom, Tamil NaduLined with the sparkling shoreline and rocky cliffs and caves, Muttom is perfect for a placid shut out from the rest of the world. Despite its tidiness and attractive appeal, the beach is least crowded and offers a effervescent sunset view from the coast and lighthouse.Read More

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If you have always dreamed of living in some beautiful suburbs, Aluva in Kerala is the place for you. It is in stark contrast to the hustle bustle of Ernakulam and a bliss to live in.
Home to numerous rivers, streams and temples, this laidback town welcomes visitors with warm hospitality. Besides the stunning landscape, there are a few places to see here including Aluva Palace, Shiva temple and Marthanda Varma Bridge. The Aluva Palace is one of the largest archaeological palaces in Kerala and is definitely a must visit. Even if you are not fond of historical tours, you can enjoy the grandeur this palace offers.
Instead of touristy sites, it's best to indulge in the spur of the moment tours where you will get a chance to interact with locals, learn about the culture and enjoy the many delicacies this small town offers.
You may not have too many options when it comes to hotels, but there are a few budget hotels you can try. Read More

If you have always dreamed of living in some beautiful suburbs, Aluva in Kerala is the place for you. It is in stark contrast to the hustle bustle of Ernakulam and a bliss to live in.
Home to numerous rivers, streams and temples, this laidback town welcomes visitors with warm hospitality. Besides the stunning landscape, there are a few places to see here including Aluva Palace, Shiva temple and Marthanda Varma Bridge. The Aluva Palace is one of the largest archaeological palaces in Kerala and is definitely a must visit. Even if you are not fond of historical tours, you can enjoy the grandeur this palace offers.
Instead of touristy sites, it's best to indulge in the spur of the moment tours where you will get a chance to interact with locals, learn about the culture and enjoy the many delicacies this small town offers.
You may not have too many options when it comes to hotels, but there are a few budget hotels you can try.

Best time to visit - January,February,August,October,November,December

This seventh largest city of Kerala is popular for its houseboat cruises along the Kerala backwaters.
Alappuzha is bedecked with lagoons, beaches and canals and offers lots of water sports such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing and water skiing, to unwind during your vacation. The backwaters also happen to be the venue for the annually celebrated (January and August) Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race, where long serpentine boats being rowed with rhythmic furor by able-bodied Malayali men, is a spectacular site to behold.
Some other famous attractions include Alleppey Beach, Andhakaranazhi Beach, Vemband Lake, Mannarasala Temple and the Alappuzha Light House, which offers a stunning panoramic view of the city and the coastline, especially during sunsets. One can also take a speed boat to Pathiramanal Island, a quiet and picturesque island on the backwaters where one can witness hundreds of rare migratory birds from around the world.
South India is culturally rich and its abundance can be enjoyed through its music, dance and spirituality. Many resorts organise cultural shows in the evening where one can enjoy the traditional dance of Kerala and one of the oldest theatre forms of the world, Kathakali.
Places such as Thaff Delicacy, Dreamers Cafe and Restaurant, Mushroom Restaurant and Kream Korner Art Cafe are famous for delicious local, vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Alappuzha can be reached by air, the nearest airport being Cochin International Airport, which is 83 km from the city, while buses and trains are also available.Read More

This seventh largest city of Kerala is popular for its houseboat cruises along the Kerala backwaters.
Alappuzha is bedecked with lagoons, beaches and canals and offers lots of water sports such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing and water skiing, to unwind during your vacation. The backwaters also happen to be the venue for the annually celebrated (January and August) Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race, where long serpentine boats being rowed with rhythmic furor by able-bodied Malayali men, is a spectacular site to behold.
Some other famous attractions include Alleppey Beach, Andhakaranazhi Beach, Vemband Lake, Mannarasala Temple and the Alappuzha Light House, which offers a stunning panoramic view of the city and the coastline, especially during sunsets. One can also take a speed boat to Pathiramanal Island, a quiet and picturesque island on the backwaters where one can witness hundreds of rare migratory birds from around the world.
South India is culturally rich and its abundance can be enjoyed through its music, dance and spirituality. Many resorts organise cultural shows in the evening where one can enjoy the traditional dance of Kerala and one of the oldest theatre forms of the world, Kathakali.
Places such as Thaff Delicacy, Dreamers Cafe and Restaurant, Mushroom Restaurant and Kream Korner Art Cafe are famous for delicious local, vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Alappuzha can be reached by air, the nearest airport being Cochin International Airport, which is 83 km from the city, while buses and trains are also available.

Day 2: Reached Allepey by road (30 km from Kumarakom)Plan: Booked Houseboat for a day (12 pm to next day 9.30 a.m)Agency: Cosy tours, Cost: 14,500 Rs, Capacity: 3bhk houseboatHouseboat we got in:

Words fail when it comes to explain the God's own country - Kerala. Amidst many locations present in the beautiful state of Kerala, Allepey (otherwise called as Allapuzha) stands out tall with its mystic beauty of backwaters. Allepey is called the Venice of the East.Here is the first snapshot of Allepey from my DSLR with many more to look out below:

Alappuzha was next, around 130kms from Marottichal, also known as the “Venice of the East”, thanks to its picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons. I was there to witness the audacity of the place which is one-of-its-kind. The backwaters are the most popular tourist attraction in Alappuzha but what I found more fascinating was the boat race (lucky enough to witness it). Get lost in the rustic environment of this place and let the universe determine the rest (Tip no. 3). Best part: Alappuzha is blessed with a rather surreal geographical feature of having the water at level with the land. Capture it, feel it.

3. ALLEPPEYRather optimistically dubbed ‘the Venice of India’, Alleppey doesn’t really live up to its nickname. At the time there seemed to be an unfortunate rubbish problem that plagues most Indian towns and cities and the canals were teeming with debris and oily waste. That being said the main draw of this town doesn’t lie in the centre but in the vast network of canals on its outskirts.For varying costs depending on size and quality you can rent a houseboat for a few days and float down the waterways atop your very own converted rice barge. Indian life continues in a much more traditional pace away from the hustle and bustle and this is clear to see as you slowly cruise down the waterways. Feast on freshly caught fish or lounge on your very own boat balcony as you watch rural India slip past.

We didn’t spend much time there as due to peak season there was much crowd however the beach was good and clean and would be more soothing in non-peak season. Returning back we had lunch and then took the boat jetty to cross and reach station in another 5 minutes. In an hour we entered ALLEEPY. The home stay booked awaited us with surprise. Nestled away near one of the backwaters and quiet off from the main town. Again one point to be noted is most of the places are easier to reach by boat than road. A wooden cottage with a private balcony overlooking the one of the water lanes. A wooden bench for sitting just outside the cottage, a perfect recipe for an evening tea.Day 4 :- Alleppy Back WaterThis day we have reserved for basically two major activities for which Kerala is most famous, massage and back waters. From our guest house we took the boats which are used for transport to reach the main jetty. Most of the commercial activities are in and around this area. We went for the most basic Kerala massage and I would recommend a full hour head massage would be worthier than a full body massage. We had lunch at one of the local shops serving authentic Kerala food and spent the rest of the day admist back waters. We hopped off at one of the stops and went around the paddy fields for an hour. In the night we had a little bit of adventure when stopped at 2 stops before as we wanted to walk. We realized that this small 1 km walk was not that easy as we encountered small streams. We were helped by local villagers to find our way back.Day 5 :- Alleppy to Varkala

Alleppey BeachAlleppey Beach is one of the most well known and popular beaches among all the beaches in kerala.The primary attraction of this beach lies in the facilities that Vijaya Beach Park provides. One can also indulge in picnics and get togethers here, which are popular activities among the local population.The shoreline is stunning and will leave you asking for more.

Next we depart for Alappuzha beach. My friends were totally behaving like Kids, as they were enjoying a lot.. but I was lost in my own world...feeling the cool droplets of water coming from the sea..the relaxing air breeze..

, Alleppey Backwaters and a stay in the houseboat.**Snippets: Kerala has played a vital role in keeping the magic of Ayurveda alive so if you need some then visit Athreya Ayurvedic Resort. 4: GOA - The Hippies' Paradise

After Athirapally, We left for the most obvious thing to do when in Kerala. The boathouse. We reached Alappuzha and rented a guest room of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation because boy! Accommodation here is expensive and hard to find. Now all the other Boathouses were quite expensive, So we went ahead with KTDC boathouse at a reasonable prize of 10K for the next night. You can rent for upto a month, but 1-2 days is seriously enough. Normally, one would expect a government boathouse to not be any better than a private one, but we were taken aback! It was beautiful! We had a 2 room boathouse, with a beautiful deck, and AC! You need AC boathouse, you cannot do without the AC on a boathouse, and even if you do, the insects are going to kill you. The boathouse was the incentive and the prize for our extremely sleepless foodless yet breathtaking journey till now. It is a MUST! The view is like those you see on Google Images, or probably Windows screensavers. Its unbelievable. One cannot miss the boathouse when in Kerala. The food is included in the cost, they give Lunch, Evening snacks, Dinner and the Breakfast in the morning before they get you back to the shore.

Best time to visit - January,February,March,September,October,November,December

Kumarakom is an exotic cluster of villages in Kerala that was created for tourists by claiming land from the Vembanad Lake that surrounds it. The landscape is covered by greenery consisting of shrubs, grass and bushes punctuated by pretty lilies and other flowers. Coconut trees line the horizon and complete the picture.
This sleepy lake village is the abode of countless rare migratory birds, including the Siberian Stork and Waterfowls. Egrets, herons, ducks and kingfisher are also commonly seen here. The Vembanad Lake is home to fish, shrimp and prawn.
Tourists frequent this destination for its backwater boathouse rides. Though expensive, the experience is worth it, especially if you have a good chef on board, who can make you delicacies of the local cuisine.
Kumarakom also houses the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, which is a great place to walk around and for birdwatching. If you happen to be here during the festival of Onam, don't miss out on the boat races. Various kinds of boats such as Odi-Vallam, Churulan Vallam, Chundan Vallam and Kochu-odi Vallam are taken over by more than a thousand oarsmen. Canoe trips can be organised on request and are best enjoyed early in the morning or during the evenings.Read More

Kumarakom is an exotic cluster of villages in Kerala that was created for tourists by claiming land from the Vembanad Lake that surrounds it. The landscape is covered by greenery consisting of shrubs, grass and bushes punctuated by pretty lilies and other flowers. Coconut trees line the horizon and complete the picture.
This sleepy lake village is the abode of countless rare migratory birds, including the Siberian Stork and Waterfowls. Egrets, herons, ducks and kingfisher are also commonly seen here. The Vembanad Lake is home to fish, shrimp and prawn.
Tourists frequent this destination for its backwater boathouse rides. Though expensive, the experience is worth it, especially if you have a good chef on board, who can make you delicacies of the local cuisine.
Kumarakom also houses the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, which is a great place to walk around and for birdwatching. If you happen to be here during the festival of Onam, don't miss out on the boat races. Various kinds of boats such as Odi-Vallam, Churulan Vallam, Chundan Vallam and Kochu-odi Vallam are taken over by more than a thousand oarsmen. Canoe trips can be organised on request and are best enjoyed early in the morning or during the evenings.

We were to head towards Kumarakom for our booked resort and thus we started looking for Bike on rent and Found the following contact to rent two wheeler for three days

Clueless and restless, we met a couple of people telling us the route to Alleppey, Thaneermukkam, Kumarakom, Cherthala and Ernakulam Bus Jn.There were people stopping bus for us to hop on (which we didnt hop on), there were cab services asking us 1100 bucks for just 55kms, explaining us the rule of paying for the cab's return journey as well.Quite frankly, we found it simply FOOLISH!Dismissing it all, I called Aravind and so there it was..he arranged a cab for us and his sweet little brother,Arun got us a cab at Woodland showroom.I had managed to charge my phone good enough to call Ilona resorts and Arun.And we thanked Gods for having a driver bhaiya who talked fluently in Hindi and so the 55kms journey to Kumarakom begun! Enjoying the view, chatting with the driver bhaiya, charging my phone, listening to Malayalam songs and munching on snacks, the weather was cloudy.Place : Kumarakom - Ilona Lake Resort.What-a-room and what-a-balcony-view! EXOTIC!We were in literal HEAVEN.Finally happy to find white sheets and a roof on our heads, four of us had to decide on our POA since it was raining outside and the houseboat was charging us way too much and that too just for an hour. Finally, I came up with the plan of hitting the beach that evening and doing the backwaters the following day! Alleppey beach in 30mins..(Man! everyone on that route has a big bungalow) and the warm sea breeze cheered all of us almost at once! It had even stopped raining and there were no harsh sun rays to bother us..sitting on the sand we chatted, made sand castles,clicked pictures,played music, called crows by our other friends's names, attended afew phone calls and walked on that clear sand. Life is happier with girlfriends and a happy sun going down the horizon. LUCKY!Back to the resort and Swetha was soooper-hungry! "Whats the time Swetha?" 8.15PM! We were like WTF,its just 8.15PM! As the fate would have it, we got a call from Nidhi(Resort Mgr) to eat early since there was a huge group headed towards restaurant in an hour's time! So there we were, munching the first proper meal of the day. Day One was about to come to a closure but not before we watched Sholay,Rajneeti, Mission to end terror and Jab We Met! #3AM-time-to-sleep zzzZZZZZZDay:2 8.45AM
"Eva! Uth ja!" .. I waited for my phone alarm.Swetha was already in the bath, Jahnavi with cam and Sharada on her phone.POA of the day was being worked upon..trying to get the best deal..challenge it was! And then Nidhi called on my phone telling me about one particular houseboat we could take from Alleppey finishing point.In another 15mins, it was decided...that was gonna be our Houseboat for the day!10.45 AM and we went to dining hall to have our breakfast! Chicken Sausages,Eggs and Pineapple juice made my tummy happy enough to start the day.11.30AM and ready to check-out we requested Nidhi for a pic with us and bid GOODBYE to Ilona. Within.Within 45mins, there we were inside our houseboat with Saju at the steering wheel.My first experience of a houseboat was about to begin. With lime juice in one hand and my Nikon in other, the journey of these backwaters started. Peaceful water with houses on both the sides of water body, the quiteness around sunk in and it was a whole new ethereal world.It was a different HIGH, out of world experience. I was happy! I was content! I was not listening to music! I was myself!Incredible landscapes followed just as the boat sailed. Then we received a brochure of an Ayurvedic Massage Centre where we were to stop during lunchtime and we could get a good spa done. Another thing to do checked off the list! 90mins we were at Kairali Spa Centre. RELAXED, we discovered the green fields on the other side of the center. Sharada and Jahnavi even went into the paddy fields. Starting again, soon enough it was time for LUNCH!One word ~ most delicious FISH ever! Beautifully cut pineapples! Thick Kerala Rice! Spicy Tasty Chicken! Tzinga and Beer and Vodka! ..the spread all laid out in the middle of the boat...we were overjoyed.
This trip was truly becoming a mysterious adventure, too many good things at once made it all the more special.It was time for us to get out of backwaters by evening and so we said we said our goodbyes to pier.Tipping our boat guides, we finished clicking pics and met the taxi guy who had brought her to Allupuzha (yes! we had learnt to speak local name of the place)...and vroom! we were again on the way to Cochin.The backwaters experience that I shared with my four girlfriends was our first all girls's trip and we talked of printing out shirts with a pic of all four of us when we would go out next..just the four of us :)And so, with the next sunrise we were in the noisy Bangalore amidst morning office goers crowd.A new week had begun and thankfully we had so many stories to tell at home, at work, everywhere we went.Its trips like these which make you realise that this life is a beautiful place because of the close pals we have around..its all about the company, place doesnt matter that much.We were glad that we did it. Its nice to let go off every worry in the world and just stretch our legs in the jocund company of those who'd be with you irrespective of their own constraint. We come from a race who's ever running, a clan who like an idea so much to commit on a Monday and ditch the same plan on that very Friday..we believe in life where we dont have to move a limb, a comfortable life. But the real mantra lies in expanding those wings and stepping out of our comfort zone, meeting new people, learning new languages, and if time be,penning all of it down one day.I'd recommend Alleppey and Kumarakom to anyone and everyone who wants to witness the real Kerala and its magic!

Take yourself away from the city lights and listen to your own heartbeat and see your soul have a conversation with yourself in the beautiful city of Kumarakom. And if you are a person who loves animals and nature more than people, this should truly be your dream destination. It not only casts a spell on you but can also comfort a timid mind.

A homely dinner later and friendly chats with Mr Thomas at their table, I asked him about the high number of Bengali speaking workers disembarking at Ernakulam earlier in the morning. He shared how with most Keralites migrating to the ‘Gulf’, they faced acute labour problems, hence drawing labour from faraway places.

We had planned a 7N/ 8D trip to Kerala. It was a very laid back trip. We wanted to enjoy the places and relax, so we stayed at 2 places - Cherai Beach and Kumarakom. Cherai Beach was a 4N stay and Kumarakom was 3N. We enjoyed the beaches, the backwaters and the amazing food to the fullest.

You can watch the race either from the banks of the lake ( intermingle of the local cloud, which should be more fun !! ), or decide to be a little more comfortable and perch yourself on top of a house-boat on the waters of the lake itself. We went for the latter, and hired a house-boat to take us from Kumarakom to Alleppey, which I guess is also their normal route, so you may not have to pay a lot extra ( as Alleppey is anyway a docking place for these house boats ). Mind you, house-boat will be one of your major expenses anyway, and more so during the boat race. That being said, these boats are wonders in themselves, and call for an experience at least a few times in your life ! These boats boast of 1, 2, 3 ( and probably more ) bedrooms, with a seating area in front. You’re treated to quality home-like local food, and you can get more economical by choosing to avail only the day-tour ( given the fact that these boats just dock up in a village for the night, and are not allowed to roam around anyway. You can, however, opt for a small boat tour in the backwaters once you dock up and have some time before sunset. You can go a bit inside into the villages probably, and it would be leisurely off course ! ).Focussing on the boat race, it is actually a series of races ( starting, I guess, with the qualifying rounds ) held over a period of 2-3 hrs, so you will get lot of opportunities to click. However, sun may be directly overhead if the race starts in the afternoon, as it was in our case. You may still get some decent light from the bank of the lake, but from the house-boat side, we were not in good luck, and had to satisfy ourselves mostly with silhouette shots. The light got a little better towards the end of the race though. That being said, I'm not sure if that is the case each year if they keep changing the race locations !The race got over by evening, and we headed back to your boarding point at Kumarakom. After staying put at a private place nearby, our next morning was reserved for a visit to the Kumarakom bird sanctuary, before our train journey back home, in the evening. The sanctuary is pretty dense but we did not have any bird sighting of significance. A guard we met on the way told us about a few watchtowers towards the end of the trail from where you get to see quite a few those birds, but we were not in luck as we didn't have sufficient time to walk all the way till there. We were also slowed down by our macro photography pursuits, and there were insects in abundance to keep us busy. There's a small butterfly park bang near the reception of the sanctuary, and then a singular path that takes you inside, perhaps all the way to those watchtowers.We were inside the sanctuary for a good 2 hours, and spent most of our time doing some macro-work. Rest of the time was spent in packing up and getting back to the Kottayam railway station for our appointment with the train, which was at 4 P.M.btw, if time permits, and if you're somewhere nearby a place called Ettumanoor ( our resting place for the night ), don't forget to stop by the old Mahadeva Temple there. It's a famous old construction, and a magnificent one at that. You should love roaming inside it's precincts. Should not take more than half an hour.Ok then, another over-night train journey, and we were back in Bangalore, fresh from our sojourn in the lush 'Greenland' that is Kerala ! Looking fwd to another grueling week, and then to another journey perhaps !In short, this was our route: Bangalore -----> Kottayam -----> Kumarakom ----> Punnamada lake using house boat ----> Back to Kumarakom and alight from the boat ----> Our private resting place nearby, for the night ----> Kumarakom bird sanctuary next day ----> Kottayam railway station.It was a 2 day affair all in all, without much hassle and hurries, so there's no need to take any leave from office ;-) !August, btw, is bang in the middle of the rainy season; enjoy the rains if you don't get to shoot :-) !

We ordered dishes for lunch as they said all the items are freshly prepared. Needless to say, the meal was out of the world. All the Kerala dishes just amazing. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and enjoyed the evening at the pool. It rained during day and the view of raindrops on the canal was so pretty that we forgot all other worries. It was truly a magical time. As it was off season the crowd was very less which was a plus point. We could have the pool mostly for ourselves.

Nextop Kumarakom backwaters. This is a must-do in every Kerala traveller's check list, and rightly so. We got a room facing the Vembanad Lake. We hired a boat for the day and got baked in the sun. Yes, getting baked is possible even in December here!

Why Kumarakom and not Alleppey for the backwaters? Simply because I was curious to see why Kumarakom is not often preferred while house-boating. Honest answer: I loved my choice.If you feel the same too, feel free to comment. Can't wait to read your thoughts. :)Expenditure: 6000 INR for 6 hours (plus 400 INR per plate for food).#kumarakom #kerala #backwaters #houseboat #keralatourism #weekendgetaway

Boasting of a culturally rich history, this small town close to Kottayam is home to numerous temples.
Changanassery is laidback and seems quite happy with where it is and there is no rush to do anything. The matter of daily business is taken very lightly but not casually, and it's actually quite a delight to escape the hustle and bustle of cities. There are many temples here that deserve a visit. Among the more notable ones are Perunna Subramanyaswami Temple, Vazhappally Temple and Thrikodithanam Temple.
Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple is one of the five temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and connected to the Pandava brothers. It is one of the most sacred temples in Kottayam and the most visited.
Besides the temples, there is not much to explore here and it's best not to spend more than a day here unless this is where you are staying. If you are staying here, you can travel outside the city to explore other touristy spots. Read More

Boasting of a culturally rich history, this small town close to Kottayam is home to numerous temples.
Changanassery is laidback and seems quite happy with where it is and there is no rush to do anything. The matter of daily business is taken very lightly but not casually, and it's actually quite a delight to escape the hustle and bustle of cities. There are many temples here that deserve a visit. Among the more notable ones are Perunna Subramanyaswami Temple, Vazhappally Temple and Thrikodithanam Temple.
Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple is one of the five temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and connected to the Pandava brothers. It is one of the most sacred temples in Kottayam and the most visited.
Besides the temples, there is not much to explore here and it's best not to spend more than a day here unless this is where you are staying. If you are staying here, you can travel outside the city to explore other touristy spots.

Changanacherry, a town in Kottayam district of Kerala is located between Kottayam and Thiruvalla townships. It is known as the gateway to the high ranges and the backwaters of Kuttanad. In the past, the region was known as Anchu Vilakkinta Pattanam, which in local language means ‘Town of five fire lamps.’ It once formed the northern boundary of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.

Best time to visit - January,February,September,October,November,December

In God’s own country is the relatively larger city of Kottayam, famous for being the trade centre of rubber, commercial crops and spices. More than being a tourist attraction, this city is the gateway to the high ranges of central Kerala, Wagamon and Elaveezha Poonchira. It is also conveniently located between the ghats and the backwaters, providing easy access to both as well as the best of both worlds!
Among the many places to visit here, Marmala is a wonderful option for its magnificent waterfalls and absolutely breathtaking beauty. The Poonjar Palace, on the other hand, is a testimony to the glorious past of Kottayam. From an enormous collection of antiques to exquisite furniture, everything is preserved in this former home of the royal family. The palace protects even the tiniest of items such as jewel boxes, lamps, sculptures of Nataraja, palm-leaf engravings and grain measures.
Pathiramanal, fondly known as the 'sands of midnight' is small island on the backwaters of Alappuzha. Sparking in natural beauty, the reflection of the moonlight on the white sand of the island is a sight to behold. Vembanad Lake is also a good option to spend a day on the coconut-fringed backwaters enjoying a leisurely meal!Read More

In God’s own country is the relatively larger city of Kottayam, famous for being the trade centre of rubber, commercial crops and spices. More than being a tourist attraction, this city is the gateway to the high ranges of central Kerala, Wagamon and Elaveezha Poonchira. It is also conveniently located between the ghats and the backwaters, providing easy access to both as well as the best of both worlds!
Among the many places to visit here, Marmala is a wonderful option for its magnificent waterfalls and absolutely breathtaking beauty. The Poonjar Palace, on the other hand, is a testimony to the glorious past of Kottayam. From an enormous collection of antiques to exquisite furniture, everything is preserved in this former home of the royal family. The palace protects even the tiniest of items such as jewel boxes, lamps, sculptures of Nataraja, palm-leaf engravings and grain measures.
Pathiramanal, fondly known as the 'sands of midnight' is small island on the backwaters of Alappuzha. Sparking in natural beauty, the reflection of the moonlight on the white sand of the island is a sight to behold. Vembanad Lake is also a good option to spend a day on the coconut-fringed backwaters enjoying a leisurely meal!

Kottyam, situated in the basin of the Meenachil River and in the basin of the Vembanad backwaters, is a beautiful town, with many old churches, giving it a vintage look. My friend, with whom I went for the trip, dwells from Kottyam, so I ended up at her place, and could binge on authentic Kerala cuisine, starting from Iddiyappam, to Beef Dosa.

Kottayam is another heavenly place of Kerala where you can visit the Ernakulam town for shopping. Cheriyapally and ettumanoor are must visit places in Kottayam. Even the feeling of staying in a hotel in Kottayam is very peaceful. Such is the feeling encountered when I had visited the place.

This national park is the breathtaking home of a plethora of precious flora and fauna, and lies along the Western Ghats. Considered the magnum opus of Kerala, the park provides magnificent panoramic views of tea plantations and rolling hills blanketed in mist. The grasslands protect the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and harbour several other species of animals, birds and butterflies, including a new species of frog that was discovered recently.
Eravikulam park becomes a sought after destination when the hill slopes get veiled by a carpet of blue, a miraculous phenomena caused by the flowering of Neelakurinji, which blooms only once in 12 years. Anamudi, translating to elephant's forehead and located within the park, is the highest peak of South India and its might and height of 8,842 ft can be enjoyed from a distance at Rajamala, from where the endangered Nilgiri Tahr can also be observed.
The park provides a number of safaris for convenient and safe tourism around the park. The Kurinji Trail, which follows through misty tracks of protected animals and flowery grasslands, is a must for trekking lovers. Another famous but charming spot is the Lakkom Waterfalls, which provide an enchanting view along with an eco-shop cafeteria to eat at. Close to these falls is a log house, which offers comfortable accommodation with complimentary food and the much desired solitude and peace amidst the lap of nature. Read More

This national park is the breathtaking home of a plethora of precious flora and fauna, and lies along the Western Ghats. Considered the magnum opus of Kerala, the park provides magnificent panoramic views of tea plantations and rolling hills blanketed in mist. The grasslands protect the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and harbour several other species of animals, birds and butterflies, including a new species of frog that was discovered recently.
Eravikulam park becomes a sought after destination when the hill slopes get veiled by a carpet of blue, a miraculous phenomena caused by the flowering of Neelakurinji, which blooms only once in 12 years. Anamudi, translating to elephant's forehead and located within the park, is the highest peak of South India and its might and height of 8,842 ft can be enjoyed from a distance at Rajamala, from where the endangered Nilgiri Tahr can also be observed.
The park provides a number of safaris for convenient and safe tourism around the park. The Kurinji Trail, which follows through misty tracks of protected animals and flowery grasslands, is a must for trekking lovers. Another famous but charming spot is the Lakkom Waterfalls, which provide an enchanting view along with an eco-shop cafeteria to eat at. Close to these falls is a log house, which offers comfortable accommodation with complimentary food and the much desired solitude and peace amidst the lap of nature.

Home to the Sambar deer, the park is home to a lot of rare species. Its a fun experience, as you get to walk around the tea gardens and observe wildlife.

Very well known for the popular Shree Krishna Temple, Ambalapuzha is a small town in Kerala and sees visitors from all across the country. Though the town doesn't offer much to visitors, the temple here more than makes up for the lack of other touristy spots.
The Krishna Temple is situated alongside a small pond and is famous for its delicious prasad, payasam. The dish is made of rice and milk is perhaps the best in the southern part of the country. In earlier times, human sacrifice used to take place here but now the sacrifice is restricted to animals. The temple is also one of the very few temples in the country where Pallipana is performed by sorcerers annually.
Ladies, do remember to wear a sari or lehenga when you are visiting the temple or else you will not be allowed. The language spoken in the temple is Malayalam and if you'd like to understand what is happening, it's best to request a local to help.
Other than the temple, there is nothing much to explore in Ambalapuzha and you can use this town as a stop on your holiday itinerary rather than making it your entire vacation destination.Read More

Very well known for the popular Shree Krishna Temple, Ambalapuzha is a small town in Kerala and sees visitors from all across the country. Though the town doesn't offer much to visitors, the temple here more than makes up for the lack of other touristy spots.
The Krishna Temple is situated alongside a small pond and is famous for its delicious prasad, payasam. The dish is made of rice and milk is perhaps the best in the southern part of the country. In earlier times, human sacrifice used to take place here but now the sacrifice is restricted to animals. The temple is also one of the very few temples in the country where Pallipana is performed by sorcerers annually.
Ladies, do remember to wear a sari or lehenga when you are visiting the temple or else you will not be allowed. The language spoken in the temple is Malayalam and if you'd like to understand what is happening, it's best to request a local to help.
Other than the temple, there is nothing much to explore in Ambalapuzha and you can use this town as a stop on your holiday itinerary rather than making it your entire vacation destination.

There are more famous, grander temples in Kerala, but Ambalappuzha is in a song that almost everybody in Kerala would hum along to if you played it. The town is in the Alapuzha district. The Sri Krishna temple is where the idol of Krishna from the much more famous Guruvayoor Temple was brought for safekeeping in 1789. Extra incentive to visit: the paal payasam (milk pudding/kheer) at the temple is very famous, both for the story behind it and for how awesome it is. If that isn’t enough either, Alapuzha has some extremely nice beaches and the backwaters are right there.

Translating to 'the gift of the forest' in the native language of Tamil Nadu and originally home to the Palaiyar tribal people, this modern city has been a retreat long since the 19th century. Located in the hills of the Dindigul district, this city was established by British bureaucrats and American Christian missionaries.
Kodaikanal offers an experience of stunning culture and natural beauty. Some famous attractions include Kodaikanal Lake, where one can always take a peaceful boat ride, Berijam Lake and Pillar Rocks. Take a walk in the pine forest or explore the Kukkal Caves and the Devil's Kitchen, a cave with a series of hidden ravines. Bear Shola falls, Glen Falls, Silver Cascade and Fairy falls make for a magical setting for nature lovers to observe and unwind.
Religious dwellings such as the La Saleth Church, Lutheran Church and Subhramanya Temple are admired famously for their intricate architecture.
For the inquisitive minds, Shembaganur Museum of Natural History, which is home to 500 species of taxidermy animals, birds and insects and the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory are great places to visit.
Coakers walk, Silent Valley View Point, Perumal Peak and 80 Mile round make for interesting walks and treks, offering breathtaking views of the plains below. Natyanjali Festival, celebrated over 4 days, is a spectacular sight to behold with dazzling dance performances and top notch acts from across the country, which one can enjoy in the months of February or March.
You can get a bite to eat at Cloud Street, Cafe Cariappa, Altaf's Cafe and Tava restaurants.Read More

Translating to 'the gift of the forest' in the native language of Tamil Nadu and originally home to the Palaiyar tribal people, this modern city has been a retreat long since the 19th century. Located in the hills of the Dindigul district, this city was established by British bureaucrats and American Christian missionaries.
Kodaikanal offers an experience of stunning culture and natural beauty. Some famous attractions include Kodaikanal Lake, where one can always take a peaceful boat ride, Berijam Lake and Pillar Rocks. Take a walk in the pine forest or explore the Kukkal Caves and the Devil's Kitchen, a cave with a series of hidden ravines. Bear Shola falls, Glen Falls, Silver Cascade and Fairy falls make for a magical setting for nature lovers to observe and unwind.
Religious dwellings such as the La Saleth Church, Lutheran Church and Subhramanya Temple are admired famously for their intricate architecture.
For the inquisitive minds, Shembaganur Museum of Natural History, which is home to 500 species of taxidermy animals, birds and insects and the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory are great places to visit.
Coakers walk, Silent Valley View Point, Perumal Peak and 80 Mile round make for interesting walks and treks, offering breathtaking views of the plains below. Natyanjali Festival, celebrated over 4 days, is a spectacular sight to behold with dazzling dance performances and top notch acts from across the country, which one can enjoy in the months of February or March.
You can get a bite to eat at Cloud Street, Cafe Cariappa, Altaf's Cafe and Tava restaurants.

Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu: The “princess of hill stations” is one of the best monsoon destinations in India. Located in the Palani hills of the Western Ghats, Kodaikanal has plenty to offer to nature lovers. From beautiful waterfalls, to lakes and lush greenery and spectacular views of the Ghats and hills, Kodaikanal is well connected by air as well as rail.

Udumalpet to kodaikanal (100km):We reached kodaikanal by 1.30pm in the afternoon. This misty hill station, 120km northwest of Madurai in the Palani hills, is more relaxed and intimate than its big sister Ooty (Kodai is the ‘Princess of Hill Stations’, while Ooty is the Queen). It’s not all cold either; during the day the weather can be more like deep spring than early winter. Centred on a beautiful lake, Kodai rambles up and down hillsides with patches of shola forest, unique to the Western Ghats in South India, and evergreen broadleaf trees like magnolia, mahogany, myrtle and rhododendron. Another of its plant specialities is the kurinji shrub, whose lilac-blue blossoms appear only every 12 years: next due 2018.Tip: check out multiple stays before you choose one. Vattaikanal is a good area if you like to stay away from the hussle and bussle of commercialisation and tourism. The cottage owners provide campfires and hotwater

A short walk opens up to the waterfall and I must say the way the whole trail gives way to the fall is suspense evoking. But we were disappointed as there was no water falling down the rock. Despite May being a time when the waterfall is usually alive, we were unfortunate. It is a very private place with not much people around, so you can spend some time in the wilderness perching up a rock or bark of a tree puffing on freshly rolled Mr C's. Be sure to put out lest you will start a wild fire.

Next day sun rises early but not we.but we got ready at 10 am after breakfast and went to ride.First we went Piller rocks.As the fog was damn high in the absence of sun we didn't get to see anything.Same happened in Suicide point or Green valley view.We took pictures and I went for horse riding.Rain was lightly falling and which made the climate heavenly.Then we went Guna caves.It was something mystical.Its name was associated with a movie shooted there.Then came the third twist.Because of my mistake I got in an accident.My head stuck in the Piller of a check post in Piller rocks.Nothing happened seriously,but everyone got panic.After the first aid in Kodaikanal hospital we returned our room and after lunch took a nap and decided to left Kodaikanal at 5 pm.In that incident we come to know the love and affection of Kodaikanal people.At 5.30 pm we went Kodaikanal lake and left home.as these crappy things happened no one was in a mood to enjoy but was in a hurry to get home as soon as possible.We planned our return journey as Palany-Pollachi-Palakkad-Thrissur-Ernakulam.As my bike again got in trouble we have to go slow with out using back brake.Some how we crossed Palany ghats and got in highway.From pollachi we had our dinner at 11 pm.Then from there we deviated straight to Thrissur in a short cut and reached Kochi next day morning 4 am.Apart from sceneric beauty views we had a serious ride.As we got in problems,met new people,new conditions things which were new .Even though trip costed a lot of time,money it's still a memorable one.And we decided to come back next year with much better planning.Last but not the least trip ends not the ride.😁

29th morning we got up into true bliss of nature as the house was covered by fog and sunshine through it. We got ready and engines roared towards Theni.This was one of the best routes to ride. It was all forest and mountains on both sides for 40-50 kms and then full of paddy fields, valleys and flower fields.

How to get this magic mushrooms : Plenty of people on the streets offer... However if you're looking for the real deal... Vattakanal cafes are the places you want to visit and enquire orThere are people on street who keep asking travellers for rooms. Ask one of them who is alone.Mushroom are available ONLY during during monsoons in Kodai, i.e. well after the start of the monsoons and before the end of winter.September to November is the best time to find big, fresh shrooms.For more travelogues: Do visit www.travelvigo.in

Kodaikanal (Misty Mountain Top)We started as early as 5 the next day to catch the Madurai-Rameshwaram passenger, and reached Madurai by 9. We took the first bus to Kodaikanal. Even though it was a local bus, the weather was pleasant and it became cooler as we ascended the hills on our way to Kodai, which took us 4 hours. As is expected of a hill station, the views were breathtaking, full of greenery and pollution-free. We spotted a Punjabi Dhaba, and hogged on parathas after an overdose of rice meals.

Kodaikanal: Sometime in the middle of the year, take a trip to the quaint little hill station of South India, Kodaikanal. Kodai Lake, Pillar rocks and the surrounding pine forests together make Kodaikanal one of the most peaceful locations to spend your vacation. Vattakanal a nearby village is also an emerging backpacking destination.Nearest airport to Koidaikanal is Madurai. Regular bus services are also available for Kodaikanal from Chennai and Coimbatore.Read More: Above the Clouds & Between the Seas! A Road Trip to Kodaikanal & Dhanushkodi by Anurag K

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12. Celebrate serenity at the most striking fishing village in India – Muttom, Tamil NaduLined with the sparkling shoreline and rocky cliffs and caves, Muttom is perfect for a placid shut out from the rest of the world. Despite its tidiness and attractive appeal, the beach is least crowded and offers a effervescent sunset view from the coast and lighthouse.